Cape Town - Police have praised local residents for assisting in arresting a Mfuleni mother who allegedly abandoned her 15-month-old baby.
The baby was found abandoned at the Bellville Railway Station on Sunday at about 4pm by a security guard.
“The baby was taken to Bellville SAPS,” said police spokesperson Joseph Swartbooi.
The 21-year-old woman was believed to be hiding near Langa and the local community lent a hand in finding her.
“We wish to thank the community at large for their assistance and information provided that assisted the investigating officer to trace, arrest and bring the suspect before court,” said Swartbooi.
Siyabulela Monakali, spokesperson for the organisation, Ilitha Labantu, said child abandonment cases had increased dramatically over the Covid-19 lockdown period.
“We strongly believe that this is attributed to the growing economic pressure in poor and working class households. We believe that all sectors need to play their part in helping to educate communities about places of care that take in unwanted infants, this will vastly limit the risk of infants being placed in harm's way,” said Monakali.